Straw in the Wind (2 page)

‘Thank you, dear. It's no good moping about your lot in life, is it? You've got to make the best of it you can, and seize any opportunity that comes your way to better yourself.'

Exactly Sara's own sentiment, except the thought of marrying into a family like the Reverend Pawley's wasn't really an enticing thought. She would much rather be in love, or better still, have a handsome young man return her love. A little thrill ran through her, because she was still young enough to believe in romance and hope it would come her way.

‘The master will be home in a day or two, though I don't suppose the visit will last long. He gets bored easily when he's here. I've only stayed on to show you where everything is. Maggie,' she shouted at the cook, ‘look lively. Miss Finn has arrived.'

Maggie's eyes opened and she gazed dubiously through them at her. ‘She's a bit on the young side for the position isn't she, Mrs Cornwell?'

‘That's what I thought, but the master won't see any difference, will he now? Besides, she has an excellent reference from her former employer. Where's Fanny? She was supposed to get the rooms ready.'

‘Gone with Giles on the cart, I reckon. She said she wanted to visit her mum, and Giles was going to drop her off before he picked up the supplies I need, then get the new housekeeper from the station.'

‘As you can see, I'm here. I walked. Giles will only have my trunk to pick up instead.'

‘I can see that you're here, Miss. I'm not daft, nor am I the one who's blind round here . . . perhaps he went to see that girl of his, Jassy Bennett.'

A clock chimed in the depths of the house and the cook got heavily to her feet. ‘Reckon I'd better get on with the stew.'

Mrs Cornwell frowned at the cook. ‘Can't you cook anything but stew?'

‘Of course, but I don't see the point. My stew is good enough for servants. I can never understand why Mr Leighton doesn't sell this place.'

‘Because the master grew up here, and he likes it here, that's why. Count yourself lucky, you'd be out of a job if he did.'

‘A lot you know. I've been here since Mr Leighton was a child, and you've only worked here for a handful of years. It's not as if you're a paragon of cleanliness yourself.'

There was evidence to back up that statement, Sara thought as she followed Mrs Cornwell along the corridor. She could only suppose that Mrs Cornwell didn't care about her position now she was leaving, but perhaps she never had. ‘You can sleep in my sitting room for tonight.'

At least the housekeeper's quarters were clean.

The tour of the house revealed a well-furnished and comfortable abode, but even though the rooms were not large or numerous the housekeeping left much to be desired. The dust on the furniture was as thick as a blanket.

Mrs Cornwell saw her running her finger through it. ‘Hardly anyone occupies the house and the staff have got into the habit of being lazy.' She sniffed. ‘I never got on with cook.'

Probably because she'd allowed Maggie to take the upper hand, Sara thought. Most of her remembered childhood had been lived in squalor. While working for the reverend she had discovered that clean and tidy was better. Not only did it look better, it smelled better, tasted better and discouraged house pests such as rats, spiders and cockroaches. Ugh! She shuddered. She would put her foot down when she took over the house. She remembered the long grass at the front. ‘Who does the garden?'

‘Joseph Tunney. He and the stable lad tend to the outside maintenance and clean the windows between them. They also look after the horse.'

‘I noticed that the grass needs cutting.'

‘Mr Leighton likes it long so he can smell the flowers. Joseph and Giles don't like anyone interfering with their job, so you need to just concern yourself with the inside of the house.' She threw open a door and frowned as dust swirled in the shaft of sunshine coming through the window. ‘This is the master's room, and he uses the sitting room at the front. He likes the afternoon sun on his face. I told Fanny to make the rooms ready today. I suppose I'll have to do it myself. Mr Leighton will bring his valet, so the room next door will need cleaning too.'

‘I'll give you a hand, even though I'm not supposed to start until tomorrow.'

‘I suppose you're thinking we're lazy here. Fanny is a bit simple. She's a good worker if you keep on her back. Cook is all right when the master's here, but she has a mouth on her sometimes. She's too old to get a position anywhere else though. The alternative is for her to go and live with her sister and her family, and they don't get on. Giles is willing, but so is his girlfriend and she leads him astray.'

Sara was not too young to know what the woman meant. To hide her blush she turned her mind to the job at hand. Thank goodness someone had put dustsheets over the beds because at least the feather mattresses wouldn't need beating. They made the beds with clean sheets and covers, shook dust from the rugs out the windows, polished the furniture with beeswax and washed the floors.

When they'd finished Sara said, ‘You won't mind if I have a word or two with the staff, will you? I intend to start in the same way as I mean to carry on.'

Mrs Cornwell had shrugged then, and smiled. ‘I just hope they'll listen.'

When they'd finished cleaning they found that Fanny had returned. She was a strong-looking girl and she smiled widely when she saw Sara. ‘You're pretty.'

Sara remembered Mrs Cornwell saying she was a bit simple. ‘Thank you, Fanny. Where have you been?'

‘To see my ma.'

‘From now on you cannot visit your mother until you've finished your work, and you must ask me first, so I don't have to worry about where you are. Do you understand, Fanny?'

‘Yes, Miss.'

‘Now you're back you may go and clean the stairs and the hall.'

‘Yes, Miss.'

Maggie snorted.

‘Is there something you need to say, Maggie?'

The cook whirled around. ‘Who do you think you are marching in here giving us orders?'

‘I'm the new housekeeper. If you don't like it, say so.'

Maggie's arms went to her hips and her chin thrust forward. ‘I don't like it.'

‘Thank you for being honest; I shall be likewise. I don't like doing the work other people are being paid to do. This kitchen is dirty, and that will attract vermin. Please clean this kitchen up and get on with your job. If you'd rather not work under me then I know somebody who would be happy to step into your shoes.'

Maggie gasped, and her voice took on a whine. ‘We'll see what the master has to say about this.'

‘I doubt if Mr Leighton will appreciate the fact that he's paying his staff a wage to sleep all day,' Sara said drily. She could almost see Maggie's mind working, and wondered which way she'd jump. To her relief, eventually the woman came to the conclusion that she was better-off doing as she was told.

Maggie shrugged. ‘I was just having a nap, that's all, Miss. I'm sorry, it won't happen again, I'm sure.'

‘So am I, Maggie . . . neither will drinking your employer's port happen again, I hope, since I think it was that which caused the need for a nap.'

‘Yes, Miss . . . I mean . . . no, Miss.'

Sara exchanged a glance with Mrs Cornwell, who smiled encouragingly at her. She noticed a young man at the door. About her own age, he was muscular, had hair the colour of ripe wheat, pale-blue eyes and a ready smile. ‘You must be Giles.'

‘Aye, I am, that.'

‘I'm Miss Finn, the new housekeeper. Did you pick my trunk up from the railway station? The stationmaster was keeping it safe in his office.'

‘He wasn't there. I'll pick it up tomorrow when I take Mrs Cornwell to catch the train.'

‘Why weren't you there to meet me, Giles? I was told to expect someone.'

He flushed. ‘Sorry, Miss Finn, I had something else to do first, and when I got there you'd left.'

‘Where's Joseph Tunney?'

‘It's his day off, Miss.'

She nodded. ‘I see.' And she saw only too well because it accounted for the stationmaster's remark about the mice playing when the cat was away. She'd already formed the impression that most of this household took advantage of the absence of the owner, and the house lacked an efficient manager. That would come to an end. ‘Try not to let it happen again, Giles, else I'll have to talk to Mr Tunney about it. You can all go about your business now.'

After dinner, and she had to admit that the lamb stew was excellent, Mrs Cornwell showed her how to do the menus for the week, then they went through the stores list and the linen inventory. ‘The house provides skirts, blouses and aprons. Two outfits a year apiece. They're in the linen cupboard. No doubt you can find something to fit, though the hems might need taking up. If you pin them up, Fanny will do them. I've taught her to sew, and she enjoys it and is good at it.'

‘That's nice to know. I can sew, but it's something I dislike doing.'

‘I've ordered the stores a month ahead, so it will give you time to get used to what is where. There's a market in Taunton, and Joseph keeps a vegetable garden. Giles fetches fresh milk from the farm every morning. There's no mistress in the house. Finch Leighton is a widower and he relies very much on the housekeeper to keep everything up to date.'

‘What's Mr Leighton like?'

‘Easy-going, but he gets restless and bored easily. Don't move any of the furniture around. He likes everything to be in its proper place.'

After that there was very little to be said. In the dying light the air took on a misty purple hue and was filled with insects and perfume. They walked around the garden together, visiting the stable with its one horse, named Curruthers. It snickered softly at them.

Later on, and lacking her nightgown, which was in her trunk, Sara stripped down to her chemise, wrapped herself in a blanket and stretched out on the couch. This little domain would be hers tomorrow, was her last thought before she fell asleep.

Fanny woke her, bringing an offering of a neatly hemmed skirt, a blue striped bodice and a white starched apron, all of which had been ironed.

‘Thank you, Fanny. Your stitching is so neat. Well done.'

Her words brought a wide smile to the girl's face.

Sara dressed, tidily braided her long hair then headed for the kitchen. She had to set the employees a good example.

She found she didn't have to. Maggie was already up and cooking breakfast. The kitchen looked cleaner, and the woman gave her a wary look until she smiled and said, ‘That smells delicious.'

Maggie beamed at her. ‘Fresh eggs, smoked bacon and sausages, and some fried tomatoes if you like. And there's some toasted bread, or you can have it fried. Giles likes it fried, but Mr Tunney prefers toast.'

‘Toast sounds wonderful. If you pass me the toasting fork and bread I'll make my own.'

An hour later, Mrs Cornwell had been sent on her way with Giles in the cart. Sara was touched to see that they'd bought her a farewell gift to remember them by, a pair of kid gloves with pearl buttons for best.

‘More than she deserved,' Maggie said. ‘She's only worked here for five years – not that she dirtied her hands, mind, she made poor Fanny do it all.'

When they'd finished waving they all went back inside and Sara told them. ‘I understand the master is to arrive tomorrow. We need to get this house looking much brighter. The silver needs polishing, Maggie. Fanny, you can put a shine on all the mirrors.'

‘It's ironing day.'

‘You can do the ironing afterwards. I'm going to clean my rooms, then the study, in case the master wants to use it.'

‘There's no reason why he should,' Maggie said.

‘Which doesn't mean to say that it should be left to collect dirt, and neither should the rest of the house come to that. It will make a bad impression on visitors, who will think Mr Leighton keeps a slovenly household,' Sara said.

Maggie's hands went to her hips. ‘Here, you watch what you're saying. I'm not slovenly, and the state of the house is none of my business. It was Mrs Cornwell's, and now it's yours. Besides, the master doesn't often have visitors.'

‘I know the state of the house is my business, Maggie, and I'll be keeping an eye on the kitchen as part of it. Where's Mr Tunney, has anyone seen him?'

‘Joseph had his breakfast early, and is spreading compost. After that he's got the border to weed. You'll get to meet him at dinner. Did you want him for something?'

‘No, it's just that I haven't met him yet.'

‘Joseph is a bit bashful. Chances are that he'll make himself known sooner or later,' she said, and Sara had to be contented with that.

It was a busy morning, but the house was beginning to take on a soft glow.

The study was filled with books that had wonderful leather bindings with gold letters. There was a picture of the late Mrs Leighton on the wall. She was beautiful, with light-brown hair, gleaming blue eyes and a mischievous pursed smile that made her appear to be about to burst into laughter.

The dress she'd worn for the portrait was hanging over the back of the chair in her room upstairs. The rich, dark-red satin was faded, the fabric ripped and stained. Her personal items were still on the dressing table. Perfume bottles, a dressing-table set, and a pair of silk gloves. A diamond ring and bracelet and a string of pearls with a locket clasp were where they'd been left.

‘The master knows where everything is, so don't move anything,' Mrs Cornwell had said, and she'd turned back the blue satin spread to show her the stains. ‘Diana, her name was,' and she'd lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘The room is kept locked. I'm showing it to you so you know. When the master's down here, sometimes he comes in here and sometimes he don't. It's morbid keeping things like this, if you ask me.'